Verbena plant named ‘Balendwite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balendwite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balendwite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant botanically known as Verbena hybrid and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balendwite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during June 2013. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Verbena cultivars that are durable toenvironmental stresses, have dark green-colored foliage, and amounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Verbena cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybridbreeding selection coded 13760(1958-1), not patented, characterized byits dark pink-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is LANAI Twister Pink ‘Flagdena’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,438, characterized by its tri-colored, white and two-toned red-purplecolored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above staledcross-pollination during August 2014 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2014 in Guadalupe, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balendwite’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having a different flower color, more growth vigor,and a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is EnduraScape White Blush‘Balendish’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,839. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balendish’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        slightly different from plants of ‘Balendish’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have wider inflorescences than        plants of ‘Balendish’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of        ‘Balendish’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balendwite’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balendwite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balendwite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in January 2018 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 12 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one weekafter transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day andapproximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night.Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘Balendwite’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection            coded 13760(1958-1), not patented.        -   Male parent.—LANAI Twister Pink ‘Flagdena’, U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 22,438.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 10.0 cm. Width: Approximately 67.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length: Approximately 27.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 4.5 cm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of young stems: 144A. Color of mature stems: 137B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 16. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, obtuse angle with            age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Broadly            acute to rounded. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature            leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper            surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to but darker            than NN137A with venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of            young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137D with venation of            147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balendwite’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Fragrance: None            detected. Length or height: 2.5 cm. Width: Approximately            6.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 16.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 7.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color: 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Sessile, salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of            unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 2.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular at apex.            Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Color: Petal portion NN155B, sepal portion 137B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.1 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube. Shape:            Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.            Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of            lateral petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of            lateral petals: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of lower petal            from tube: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower petal:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous            with glandular pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Primarily colorless,            transparent with a few colored N92C. Color of upper surface            when first and fully open: NN155D with 145D at throat            opening. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            NN155D. Color of whiskers surrounding the opening of the            corolla tube: Lighter than 145D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at            proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Upper half            moderately glandular pubescent, lower half glabrous. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of inner surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of outer surface: 145D with 145C at            distal end. Color of inner surface: 145D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with            a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces:            137B.        -   Stipules.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer            surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of inner and outer surfaces: 144A at base            transitioning to 137A at apex.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,            didynamous. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately            2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately            1.0 mm. Anther color: N144D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 1D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma            length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A. Style length:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color:            144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Verbena has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘Balendwite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.